By Creative Media Times

“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” Chiwetel Ejiofor’s directorial debut has been picked up for global distribution by Netflix.

Based on the bestselling book by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, the movie is set for release in select U.S. and U.K. theaters as well as launch on the streaming platform.

The incredible story follows 13-year-old boy William Kamkwamba, thrown out of school due for lack of money, finds a way to build a windmill which saved his village in Malawi from famine.

Newcomer actor Maxwell Simba is set to play William, while Ejiofor plays his father Trywell. Ejiofor in his directorial debut also wrote the screenplay. Ejiofor previously received an academy award best actor nomination for “12 Years a Slave” in 2014.

Also in the film are Aïssa Maïga (Anything for Alice), Lily Banda, Lemogang Tsipa (Eye in the Sky), Philbert Falakeza, with Joseph Marcell (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) and Noma Dumezweni (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child).